Patent systems and patent laws exist to promote investment in and development of technology. The recently-enacted America Invents Act (AIA) and certain U.S. Supreme Court decisions over the last 5 years have brought the most dramatic changes to U.S. patent law in more than 50 years. This course focuses on the fundamentals of U.S. patent law including patentability, infringement, inventorship, and ownership. The course will also explore some of the underlying themes in patent law as well as the purpose of and justifications for a patent system. The course reading includes the patent statute (Title 35 of the United States Code) both pre-AIA and post-AIA and selected case law primarily from the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The course will generally address both the procurement and enforcement of U.S. patents. Although this course will cover the legal principles underlying patent claim drafting and patentability, this course will not focus on patent practice and procedure. Hybrid Juris Doctor students cannot take this course for an S/U grade.

This course will examine the precepts of trademark and unfair competition law. We will investigate issues of ownership, registration, goodwill, misappropriation, infringement, and dilution in the context of words, phrases, symbols, slogans, product design, and trade dress. The course will also explore related issues such as false and comparative advertising, rights of publicity, and fair use. Hybrid Juris Doctor students cannot take this course for an S/U grade.

Appellate Advocacy is a writing intensive course designed to teach the different components of appellate brief writing, as well as effective appellate oral advocacy. One or two case problems (depending upon the particular professor) are assigned throughout the semester, modeled after actual court cases. Students will be taught how to master the facts of a case, the rule of law applicable to the particular legal problem, and the policy underpinning the rule of law. Paramount goals of the course include professionalism and instructing students on clear, persuasive, organized, and strategic written and oral communication skills necessary for effective legal advocacy. While AA focuses on the appellate practice setting, the written and oral advocacy skills students will acquire are applicable to all settings of legal practice. Grading will be based on one or two appellate briefs, oral arguments, meaningful class participation and other assignments. This course cannot be taken for an S/U grade.

Analysis and applications of algebraic and transcendental functions, with special emphasis on exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions. Graphical analysis. Written projects are required on some or all of the following topics: rates of change, optimization, logarithmic or exponential modeling, and trigonometric functions. Intended for students planning to take MATH 425. Not offered for credit if credit is received for MATH 424 or MATH 425.